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Best states for a museum technician
Quoted expert
Lois Silverman Ph.D.
- Rank 1 - 10
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- 41 - 51
It seems like museum technicians are becoming more and more common across America. But working conditions and demand for museum technicians aren't the same everywhere in the U.S. This way, if you are newly entering the job market, or you are looking to change jobs, you know which places are the best for museum technician jobs.
To do that, we looked at the most recent data we have available for the following criteria -- average annual wages, and availability of jobs for museum technicians.We found that the West is best for museum technicians, and the Northeast is the worst. Washington, DC is the best city in the country for museum technician jobs, where as Alaska is the best state in the country.
10 best states for museum technicians in 2026
1. Alaska
Total museum technician jobs: 83 Average annual salary: $51,066 Lowest 10 percent earn: $31,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.99
2. Delaware
Total museum technician jobs: 74 Average annual salary: $52,391 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $83,000 Location Quotient: 1.18
3. Connecticut
Total museum technician jobs: 227 Average annual salary: $46,302 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $73,000 Location Quotient: 1.37
4. New York
Total museum technician jobs: 832 Average annual salary: $47,747 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 1.3
5. New Hampshire
Total museum technician jobs: 93 Average annual salary: $49,943 Lowest 10 percent earn: $32,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $76,000 Location Quotient: 1.06
6. New Jersey
Total museum technician jobs: 487 Average annual salary: $46,632 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $74,000 Location Quotient: 1.23
7. Rhode Island
Total museum technician jobs: 53 Average annual salary: $52,280 Lowest 10 percent earn: $33,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $82,000 Location Quotient: 0.87
8. Nevada
Total museum technician jobs: 119 Average annual salary: $47,364 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $77,000 Location Quotient: 1.14
9. Vermont
Total museum technician jobs: 52 Average annual salary: $42,072 Lowest 10 percent earn: $28,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $61,000 Location Quotient: 1.36
10. Massachusetts
Total museum technician jobs: 533 Average annual salary: $45,283 Lowest 10 percent earn: $29,000 Highest 10 percent earn: $70,000 Location Quotient: 1.16
Museum technician jobsNear Columbus, OH
How Zippia determines the best states to be a museum technician
You can read about how the best state rankings are calculated here.
Detailed list of the best states for a museum technician
| Rank | State | Average salary | Lowest 10% earn | Population | Job count |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $51,066 | $31,000 | 739,795 | 83 |
| 2 | Delaware | $52,391 | $32,000 | 961,939 | 74 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $46,302 | $29,000 | 3,588,184 | 227 |
| 4 | New York | $47,747 | $29,000 | 19,849,399 | 832 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $49,943 | $32,000 | 1,342,795 | 93 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $46,632 | $29,000 | 9,005,644 | 487 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $52,280 | $33,000 | 1,059,639 | 53 |
| 8 | Nevada | $47,364 | $28,000 | 2,998,039 | 119 |
| 9 | Vermont | $42,072 | $28,000 | 623,657 | 52 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $45,283 | $29,000 | 6,859,819 | 533 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $40,128 | $26,000 | 1,815,857 | 92 |
| 12 | Illinois | $41,394 | $28,000 | 12,802,023 | 722 |
| 13 | Texas | $47,797 | $31,000 | 28,304,596 | 789 |
| 14 | Iowa | $37,744 | $25,000 | 3,145,711 | 215 |
| 15 | Maryland | $44,844 | $28,000 | 6,052,177 | 325 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $42,985 | $27,000 | 12,805,537 | 496 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $36,991 | $25,000 | 4,454,189 | 200 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $50,120 | $31,000 | 693,972 | 29 |
| 19 | Missouri | $36,153 | $24,000 | 6,113,532 | 385 |
| 20 | Ohio | $40,717 | $26,000 | 11,658,609 | 415 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $41,369 | $29,000 | 755,393 | 30 |
| 22 | Michigan | $36,503 | $24,000 | 9,962,311 | 392 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $36,952 | $25,000 | 1,920,076 | 112 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $35,233 | $23,000 | 2,984,100 | 115 |
| 25 | Colorado | $34,603 | $23,000 | 5,607,154 | 359 |
| 26 | Kansas | $35,201 | $24,000 | 2,913,123 | 146 |
| 27 | Utah | $34,378 | $22,000 | 3,101,833 | 162 |
| 28 | Maine | $31,496 | $21,000 | 1,335,907 | 152 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $32,399 | $22,000 | 5,024,369 | 241 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $32,512 | $22,000 | 3,930,864 | 165 |
| 31 | Florida | $31,470 | $22,000 | 20,984,400 | 975 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $32,094 | $22,000 | 5,576,606 | 380 |
| 33 | Georgia | $31,521 | $21,000 | 10,429,379 | 591 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $32,080 | $21,000 | 6,715,984 | 255 |
| 35 | Arizona | $32,885 | $20,000 | 7,016,270 | 280 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $30,816 | $21,000 | 5,795,483 | 293 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $29,152 | $19,000 | 10,273,419 | 632 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $32,671 | $21,000 | 2,088,070 | 71 |
| 39 | Virginia | $32,846 | $21,000 | 8,470,020 | 406 |
| 40 | Oregon | $33,466 | $20,000 | 4,142,776 | 156 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $30,237 | $20,000 | 3,004,279 | 117 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $30,539 | $21,000 | 869,666 | 40 |
| 43 | Indiana | $29,158 | $19,000 | 6,666,818 | 354 |
| 44 | California | $33,531 | $20,000 | 39,536,653 | 879 |
| 45 | Montana | $29,702 | $19,000 | 1,050,493 | 52 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $30,283 | $22,000 | 1,427,538 | 34 |
| 47 | Alabama | $27,551 | $18,000 | 4,874,747 | 220 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $28,669 | $19,000 | 4,684,333 | 133 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $28,066 | $18,000 | 579,315 | 22 |
| 50 | Washington | $27,660 | $17,000 | 7,405,743 | 240 |
| 51 | Idaho | $26,409 | $16,000 | 1,716,943 | 52 |
Highest paying states for museum technicians
| Rank | State | Avg. Museum Technician Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Alaska | $51,066 |
| 2 | Delaware | $52,391 |
| 3 | Connecticut | $46,302 |
| 4 | New York | $47,747 |
| 5 | New Hampshire | $49,943 |
| 6 | New Jersey | $46,632 |
| 7 | Rhode Island | $52,280 |
| 8 | Nevada | $47,364 |
| 9 | Vermont | $42,072 |
| 10 | Massachusetts | $45,283 |
| 11 | West Virginia | $40,128 |
| 12 | Illinois | $41,394 |
| 13 | Texas | $47,797 |
| 14 | Iowa | $37,744 |
| 15 | Maryland | $44,844 |
| 16 | Pennsylvania | $42,985 |
| 17 | Kentucky | $36,991 |
| 18 | District of Columbia | $50,120 |
| 19 | Missouri | $36,153 |
| 20 | Ohio | $40,717 |
| 21 | North Dakota | $41,369 |
| 22 | Michigan | $36,503 |
| 23 | Nebraska | $36,952 |
| 24 | Mississippi | $35,233 |
| 25 | Colorado | $34,603 |
| 26 | Kansas | $35,201 |
| 27 | Utah | $34,378 |
| 28 | Maine | $31,496 |
| 29 | South Carolina | $32,399 |
| 30 | Oklahoma | $32,512 |
| 31 | Florida | $31,470 |
| 32 | Minnesota | $32,094 |
| 33 | Georgia | $31,521 |
| 34 | Tennessee | $32,080 |
| 35 | Arizona | $32,885 |
| 36 | Wisconsin | $30,816 |
| 37 | North Carolina | $29,152 |
| 38 | New Mexico | $32,671 |
| 39 | Virginia | $32,846 |
| 40 | Oregon | $33,466 |
| 41 | Arkansas | $30,237 |
| 42 | South Dakota | $30,539 |
| 43 | Indiana | $29,158 |
| 44 | California | $33,531 |
| 45 | Montana | $29,702 |
| 46 | Hawaii | $30,283 |
| 47 | Alabama | $27,551 |
| 48 | Louisiana | $28,669 |
| 49 | Wyoming | $28,066 |
| 50 | Washington | $27,660 |
| 51 | Idaho | $26,409 |
Expert opinions on the best states for museum technicians
Are there any particularly good places in the United States for museum technicians to find work opportunities?
Lois Silverman Ph.D.
Professor of Museum Studies, Public Scholar of Museum Education, Indiana University - Purdue University Indianapolis
Geographically speaking, there, of course, tend to be more museums and cultural organizations in cities and metro areas, but museums exist in every region and state. Willingness to relocate is an advantage, while some jobs might allow remote, virtual work. Stay connected with former internship mentors, colleagues, you know, and institutions where you have volunteered or could begin doing so; personal connections often unadvertised net opportunities. Your first museum job may not be your "dream" job, but getting launched in the field is critical.
I also advise museum studies graduates to cast their nets wide and think creatively about where their museum skills and talents are relevant. Museum work today takes place in many settings and industries, including community and social agencies, corporate collections, educational foundations, consulting companies, and technology firms, to name a few. When you see a connection that speaks to you, make the case! You might innovate your way into a rewarding opportunity.
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Updated January 8, 2025